Bahrain rules out evacuating students from flu-hit Pune

Dubai, Aug 18 (PTI) Authorities in Bahrain have ruled out
any mass evacuation of Bahraini students from India's swine
flu-hit city of Pune, despite claims they were living under
lockdown.

A Bahraini Member of Parliament had demanded the return
of students from Pune where at least 13 people died of swine
flu, a Gulf Daily News report said.

The member of Parliament, Jalal Fairooz, expressed fears
that students infected with the H1N1 virus might not have
access to proper medical treatment in Pune, the report said.

However, cultural attache at the Bahraini Consulate in
Mumbai, Mustafa Syed Ebrahim, ruled out any such move saying
the situation on the ground had "improved drastically" over
the past few days.

"We are in constant touch with health authorities and
have been following their directives," he told the newspaper
from Pune. "We have also recommended the students to follow
that advice."

Ebrahim said authorities had never considered mass
evacuation as an option, but added that consulate officials
were in constant contact with the approximately 550 Bahraini
students in Pune.

"They are comfortable and there is no panic," he said.
"We have asked them to get in touch with us if they have any
questions."

The official also said several Bahraini students who
returned home for their summer holidays had not yet returned
to Pune where schools and universities have been closed
following the swine flu outbreak.

"We shall advice them on when educational institutions
reopen so they can return," he added.

MP Jalal Fairooz however stood by his demand to fly
Bahraini students home from Pune claiming they were being
virtually held hostage inside a compound where they were
staying, as they were afraid to go outside. PTI